Dr Jamie and Amanda Ellis came to Northern Ireland as guests of Michael Young, RANDBKA member and Chairman of INIB.
During their brief visit they gave talks to NI Beekeepers on three separate occasions - Mid Ulster, INIB and on Thursday 15th to a joint meeting hosted by RANDBKA and MABKA at the Arches Community Centre.
Chairman of RANDBKA - Elmer Kennedy, opened the meeting and Michael Young introduced the speakers.
There was a great turnout with 54 beekeepers from throughout Northern Ireland at our first meeting of 2007. Amanda and Jamie gave very interesting talks and slide shows on The Benefits of Nucs and Bee Nutrition. They were both available for many questions on all aspects of beekeeping after their talks and during refreshments served by RANDBKA.
Jamie, Amanda and Michael's wife Rae visited the Apiary the previous Monday where they met Committee Members David Deane, Elmer Kennedy, Walter McNeill and Caroline Thomson and were taken on a tour of the O'Neill Estate by Walter. They were then taken to Talnotry Avian Care Centre in Crumlin where Amanda fulfilled a life long ambition of holding - and being photographed with - a hedgehog and seeing foxes.
Jamie and Amanda also visited the site of the new apiary at MABKA where they planted an American Red Maple tree, native of Georgia USA, their home state.
At the end of the evening Jamie and Amanda were presented with books on British and Irish mythology, a book of Toasts and a book of local recipes by RANDBKA.
Our sincere thanks to Michael and Rae for hosting Jamie and Amanda, arranging the visit and talks. Thanks also to Mid Antrim BKA for their help in putting on this exciting event. Let's hope it will be the first of many joint ventures between our organisations.

| 17.2.2007 |